Nonlocal activation of a bistable atom through a surface state charge-transfer process on Si(100)-(2×1):H.

ABSTRACT

The reversible hopping of a bistable atom on the Si(100)-(2×1)H surface is activated nonlocally by hole injection into Si-Si bond surface states with a low temperature (5 K) scanning tunneling microscope. In the contact region, at short distances (<1.5 nm) between the hole injection site and the bistable atom, the hopping yield of the bistable atom exhibits remarkable variations as a function of the hole injection site. It is explained by the density of state distribution along the silicon bond network that shows charge-transfer pathways between the injection sites and the bistable atom.